Parents/caregivers and their incoming kindergarten students are invited to an informational session on how to prepare your child for kindergarten success!

What: Join us to learn the skills your child needs to be successful in kindergarten. The session will include hands-on classroom learning sessions, tips and ideas to help prepare your student for success!

10.a. Recognize Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s 2018 Super Star Award Recipients - The Super Star program was established to recognize employees who have demonstrated high levels of service excellence, going above and beyond expectations to make a positive and recognizable difference at the district.

Report

13.b. NMUSD Inclusive Practices - The Special Education Department has been developing Inclusive Practice models at a number of elementary schools. The focus has been to increase the participation of special education students in the general education programs. At present every elementary mild/moderate special education student is on a general education teacher's roster.

Board meetings are where elected officials conduct the business of the school district. Agendas for regular meetings of the NMUSD typically consist of a closed session and an open session.

Closed session agenda items are confidential and cannot be shared with the public. If the board agenda contains a closed session, the topics will be routinely related to confidential employee or student issues and/or pending litigation. The Board may also discuss various negotiations with its chief negotiator in a closed session.

Open session items are non-confidential agenda items in which the board conducts its business in view of the public. Open session agenda items are divided into the following sections:

Public comment is provided so that members of the community can speak to the Board. If a speaker addresses an issue that is not on the agenda, the Board is restricted from responding to the speaker. If a speaker addresses an issue that is on the agenda, the Board may respond when the agenda item is scheduled to be addressed in the agenda. The purpose of the open meeting law, commonly referred to as the Brown Act, guarantees that public organizations will only make decisions or address issues that have been publicly posted. Public comments on non-agenda items do not meet this threshold.

Presentation is when an item is being presented to the Board or from the Board. Examples include presentation of a check or proclamation to the Board, or the Board presenting a Distinguished Service Award to a staff member.

Report is a verbal communication from staff on a topic of interest to the Board.

Consent calendar items are routine items of business that occur on a regular basis. The board will approve the consent calendar in one vote, unless the board pulls it for discussion. Often, consent calendar items are related to contract renewals, construction change orders, purchase of previously approved instructional materials, supplies and routine approvals required by state law.

Discussion/action calendar items are required to be publicly approved separately. Items in this category are new items that have not been previously approved, require a policy change, or are related to compensation changes for all employees.

We have a partnership with the Costa Mesa Police Department and the Newport Beach Police Department to provide School Resource Officers (SRO), which are local law enforcement officers who work closely with all of our schools.

All school sites have safety plans in place which are updated yearly and as-needed throughout the year. Safety plans are regularly reviewed and updated in collaboration with emergency responders and local law enforcement, including SROs.

Schools regularly conduct safety drills with students and staff to prepare for a variety of potential situations. Drills include procedures for lock down, shelter in place, run, hide act, among others such as earthquake and fire procedures.

Schools participate in threat assessment and emergency response trainings with local law enforcement and first responders.

Our district has a Crisis Response Team that is immediately deployed to a school(s) during a crisis to provide immediate and ongoing support and resources. Counselors, social workers, and school psychologists are available to students should they need additional support during difficult times. We also encourage parents to have open discussions with their children to help them process the event and continue to raise awareness about the importance of safety.

While we have plans in place that are regularly practiced, please know that school safety is not something we can do alone. The partnership and support that we have with our local law enforcement and our school community is critical.

We ask for parents’ support in reminding students to please take all drills seriously, follow law enforcement, teacher and site administrator instructions, and if they see something, say something - it is the best deterrent to potentially harmful situations. We want everyone on our campuses, including parents and guardians to be empowered to report unusual or suspicious activity.

Please know that we do all we can to provide a safe learning environment when students are in our care. We prioritize safety and continually assess our preparedness, improve our practices, and evolve with the changing times.

In August 2017, Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) began the process of evaluating and piloting new math instructional materials for sixth through eighth grade. Through the seven month, teacher-driven, pilot process, teachers and staff identified Illustrative Mathematics as the comprehensive set of sixth through eighth grade math instructional materials for NMUSD students.

Illustrative Mathematics materials are available for public review on the Open Up Resources Website. If you would like to review a hard copy of the materials, please contact Tere Russell at (714) 424-5066 or trussell@nmusd.us to make a viewing appointment at the District Office (Sanborn Building) – 2985 Bear Street, Costa Mesa 92626. Material viewing will be available from May 10, 2018- to June 12, 2018. All schools will have the QR code, links and a computer available should you wish to review material at the site. A recommendation for final approval will go forward to the Board of Education on June 12, 2018 to implement these new materials for the 2018/19 school year.

14.a. Report on the Grade 6 – 8 Math Instructional Materials. Education Services along with Grade 6 - 8 elementary lead teachers and principal will report on the process and results for the math instructional materials pilot.

14.b. Report on Classroom, School and District Coordination for Integrated Pest Management. Staff will provide background Healthy Schools Act and will report on the implications of its Integrated Pest Management Plan.

Consent

18.b.4. Approve Agreement with Orange County Public Libraries to Sponsor a Summer Food Service Program at the Costa Mesa/Donald Dugan Library. The Nutrition Service Department will prepare, deliver and serve lunch to children each weekday from June 25 to August 3, 2018. Library staff will provide supervision and enrichment activities for children.

18.b.5. Approve the 2017-2018 Carl D. Perkins Career Technical Education Application. The application allows the District to qualify for Perkins funding for the 2018 - 2019 school year. The 2018 - 2019 allocation of $130,913 will help in the continuing support of the CTE programs.

Resolution Consent Calendar

19.a. Adopt Resolution No. 33-05-18 in Support if May 9, 2018 as “National School Nurse Day” and the week of May 7-11, 2018 as “National School Nurse Week”

19.b. Adopt Resolution No. 36-05-18 Recognizing California Day of the Teacher
May 9, 2018 and National Teacher Appreciation Week May 7-11, 2018

19.c. Adopt Resolution 34-05-18 Recognizing May 20-26, 2018 as Classified School Employee of the Week

19.e. Adopt Resolution No. 37-05-18 Order of Biennial Trustee Election and Specifications of the Election Order. Elections for Newport-Mesa Unified School District Governing Board positions are held biannually in even years. A Governing Board resolution is required, which serves the County Superintendent of Schools an order calling the election and specifying the date and purpose of the election.

Board Meeting Overview

Board meetings are where elected officials conduct the business of the school district. Agendas for regular meetings of the NMUSD typically consist of a closed session and an open session.

Closed sessionagenda items are confidential and cannot be shared with the public. If the board agenda contains a closed session, the topics will be routinely related to confidential employee or student issues and/or pending litigation. The Board may also discuss various negotiations with its chief negotiator in a closed session.

Open sessionitems are non-confidential agenda items in which the board conducts its business in view of the public. Open session agenda items are divided into the following sections:

Public comment is provided so that members of the community can speak to the Board. If a speaker addresses an issue that is not on the agenda, the Board is restricted from responding to the speaker. If a speaker addresses an issue that is on the agenda, the Board may respond when the agenda item is scheduled to be addressed in the agenda. The purpose of the open meeting law, commonly referred to as the Brown Act, guarantees that public organizations will only make decisions or address issues that have been publicly posted. Public comments on non-agenda items do not meet this threshold.

Presentation is when an item is being presented to the Board or from the Board. Examples include presentation of a check or proclamation to the Board, or the Board presenting a Distinguished Service Award to a staff member.

Report is a verbal communication from staff on a topic of interest to the Board.

Consent calendar items are routine items of business that occur on a regular basis. The board will approve the consent calendar in one vote, unless the board pulls it for discussion. Often, consent calendar items are related to contract renewals, construction change orders, purchase of previously approved instructional materials, supplies and routine approvals required by state law.

Discussion/action calendar items are required to be publicly approved separately. Items in this category are new items that have not been previously approved, require a policy change, or are related to compensation changes for all employees.

Program Overview:
NMUSD’s young learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) learn side-by-side with their neighborhood, same-aged peers in structured, caring preschool classrooms. The goal of the program is for all of our young learners to achieve kindergarten readiness. The focus of each classroom is multi-dimensional across the pre-academic, social, self-help, and motor domains. Language and beginning literacy skills, including phonological awareness and alphabet knowledge, is emphasized. Social and emotional independence is fostered through direct teaching and cooperative play. We strive to prepare all learners for a successful kindergarten experience! Each program has one credentialed special education teacher with a Master’s degree and two NMUSD trained Behavior Interventionists. The program uses a variety of preschool curriculum and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) teaching methodology.

11.a. Recognize Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s 2018 Classified Employee of the Year Recipients. The following classified employees were selected as NMUSD’s Classified School Employees of the Year and their names were submitted to the Orange County Department of Education for consideration as the Orange County nominee:

17.a.4. Approve Agreement With Studio+ for Architectural Consulting Services to Determine the Best Approach to Provide Access Control at all District Sites. The district has committed to a continuing effort to enhance security at our campuses. The Board of Education has requested that staff review these improvements and the conditions at the district's other sites to determine whether additional improvements may be appropriate to provide for secure access points and site perimeters.

17.b.1. Approve Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center Contract for California Elementary School for the 2018/2019 School Year. Students and teachers from California Elementary School will participate in the program offered at the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center during the 2018/19 school year.Students will have a hands-on experience, interact with the natural surroundings in a program aligned with the California Science and/or Social Science Content Standards.

Discussions/Action Calendar

18.a. Adopt Resolution 32-04-18 Designating the Observance of Washington Day on February 18, 2019 and Lincoln Day on February 19, 2019.

Board Meeting Overview

Board meetings are where elected officials conduct the business of the school district. Agendas for regular meetings of the NMUSD typically consist of a closed session and an open session.

Closed session agenda items are confidential and cannot be shared with the public. If the board agenda contains a closed session, the topics will be routinely related to confidential employee or student issues and/or pending litigation. The Board may also discuss various negotiations with its chief negotiator in a closed session.

​​​​​​​ Open session items are non-confidential agenda items in which the board conducts its business in view of the public. Open session agenda items are divided into the following sections:

Public comment is provided so that members of the community can speak to the Board. If a speaker addresses an issue that is not on the agenda, the Board is restricted from responding to the speaker. If a speaker addresses an issue that is on the agenda, the Board may respond when the agenda item is scheduled to be addressed in the agenda. The purpose of the open meeting law, commonly referred to as the Brown Act, guarantees that public organizations will only make decisions or address issues that have been publicly posted. Public comments on non-agenda items do not meet this threshold.

Presentation is when an item is being presented to the Board or from the Board. Examples include presentation of a check or proclamation to the Board, or the Board presenting a Distinguished Service Award to a staff member.

Report is a verbal communication from staff on a topic of interest to the Board.

Consent calendar items are routine items of business that occur on a regular basis. The board will approve the consent calendar in one vote, unless the board pulls it for discussion. Often, consent calendar items are related to contract renewals, construction change orders, purchase of previously approved instructional materials, supplies and routine approvals required by state law.

Discussion/action calendar items are required to be publicly approved separately. Items in this category are new items that have not been previously approved, require a policy change, or are related to compensation changes for all employees.

School safety is a concern for everyone particularly with the recent events that have occurred nationally and locally. While Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) has always prioritized safety we must continually assess our preparedness, improve our practices, and evolve with the changing times.

In an effort to support this important goal, Superintendent Dr. Navarro has assigned Deputy Superintendent Mr. Russell Lee Sung to immediately conduct an in-depth review of all safety related procedures, update policies and procedures (where necessary), and provide assistance to all school sites and work locations throughout the district. Since this will require focused attention in next several months, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Mr. John Drake, will temporarily assume many duties of Chief Academic Officer.

You may recall a communication that Superintendent Dr. Fred Navarro sent to NMUSD families in February, which provided a brief overview of current safety plans and procedures. While all our schools have comprehensive safety plans to respond to safety-related incidents that meet or exceed the compliance requirements of the state, NMUSD must have a renewed focus on all safety practices.

Since October 2017, district administrators from various departments throughout the district met regularly to review all aspects of safety. Mr. Russell Lee-Sung facilitated this process, and has supported and worked with site principals and district management.

On February 27, 2018 the Board of Education directed staff to provide recommendations for improved safety. A series of immediate short-term actions items have been developed and include, but are not limited to, the following:

Physical Environment

Conduct site safety reviews with focus on access to campus.

Law Enforcement Partnership

Coordinate increased School Resource Officers (SRO) visibility throughout all school zones, particularly at the elementary schools.

Continue to use social, emotional, and behavioral health support services and assess all threats and reports of bullying.

Implement the Challenge Success partnership at high schools. Challenge Success is an organization that provides strategies to staff, students, and parents to create a positive academic learning environment. Based on their work with our schools, Challenge Success will offer recommendations for creating a healthier school climate.

While these are only a few of the immediate action items, other long term safety measures must be considered on a district wide level and strategic basis after careful research and consideration.

Please know that safety is always at the forefront of our mind but safety requires the diligence of everyone playing an important role in contributing to a safe environment. We urge everyone to stay alert, report concerns, wait for official communication from your child’s school or our district, avoid spreading rumors or unsubstantiated information, and use good judgment and flexibility during an emergency as each incident is unique which may require modifications to our planned procedures.
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Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s (NMUSD) successful approach to curriculum adoption was featured in a case study by EdReports.org.

EdReports.org is an independent nonprofit designed to improve K-12 education. EdReports.org increases the capacity of teachers, administrators, and leaders to seek, identify, and demand the highest-quality instructional materials.

The case study reviewed NMUSD’s nine month curriculum adoption process for elementary math and English language arts instructional materials. The case study notes NMUSD’s commitment to a transparent adoption process that was data driven, aligned to state standards, and teacher-centered.

As part of the process NMUSD partnered with the Orange County Department of Education who supported the district with their deep knowledge and expertise to provide guidance on the adoption process, evaluation tools, professional development, and final program selection process.

The adoption process began with a Steering Committee, which included educators throughout the district. The Steering Committee reviewed and determined which two instructional material programs would be piloted. The next step in the process was intensive training into the shifts in mathematics. Each program was then piloted for seven weeks.

After months of meetings, piloting, and evidence gathering, the materials adoption team reviewed the results and began the consensus process to select the best instructional materials for NMUSD students. The first task in the consensus process was to build a shared definition and understanding of what consensus means.

“The idea is that all voices are heard, and you don’t move forward until everyone, even those who most oppose it, can see the will of the group emerging,” said Mr. George Knights, director for assessments for NMUSD.

Based on the analysis of the results, a consensus was reached through a variety of activities designed so that all voices would be heard and eventually reveal the will of the group. At the end of the nine month process, the NMUSD Board of Education adopted the recommended math and English language arts curriculum for elementary students.

While the comprehensive, teacher-centered adoption process ends there, the implementation, ongoing support for students and teachers, and parent education continues.

The implementation process began with a summer professional development series, where teachers participated in various training opportunities to learn the new material and approaches on how to best implement the material.

NMUSD also has implemented a yearlong Moonlight Series, which are two hour grade specific sessions to review upcoming units of study. The lead pilot teachers from the adoption process and district staff lead these monthly sessions.

As part of the momentum that’s building specific with elementary math instruction, schools also began incorporating parent education sessions. Each school site has flexibility as to how they engage, educate, and provide parents with resources to support their child’s learning. Some schools have hosted “bring your parent to math class day” or “muffins and math day,” for parents to see firsthand what math looks like in the classroom today. Schools also have or will host formal parent meetings and presentations to provide a greater understanding of the state standards and how students are learning math concepts to best prepare them for future success.

2.a. Discussion on a Possible Change to a Single Student Board Member for 2018-19.It is recommended that the Board of Education discuss the options of moving to a single student board member representative including the application, selection process, and expectations of the position.

Recognition

11.a. 2018 Harbor Council PTA Reflection Program – 4th District Award Recipients.The program honors students for their achievements in six categories: literature, film/video, visual arts, photography, dance choreography, and musical composition.

Report

14.a. Report on Engineering Pathway at Costa Mesa Middle School and Costa Mesa High School. Staff members from Costa Mesa Middle School and Costa Mesa High School will report on their Engineering pathway.

Consent

17.b.4. Approve the Memorandum of Understanding between NMUSD Project Kidz Connect, After-School Program and Girls Inc. of Orange County for 2017-2018. Girls, Inc. of Orange County would like to partner with N-MUSD Project Kidz Connect, After-School Program to provide 60 hours of intentional, research-based, interactive programming in 2017-2018 school year. The curriculum is focused on academic support, building life skills, or personal development.

Public Hearing/Discussion Action

18.a. Public Hearing of the California School Employees Association, Chapter #18 Initial Proposal for Reopener Negotiations to the Newport-Mesa Unified School District for Negotiations Commencing 2018-2019

19.a. Public Hearing of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s Initial Proposal for Reopener Negotiations to the California School Employees Association, Chapter #18 for Negotiations commencing 2018-2019

Discussion/Action Calendar

20.a. Adopt Resolution No.31-03-18 in Support of Autism Awareness Month, April 2018.In order to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, the Autism Society has been celebrating national Autism Awareness Month since the 1970's.

Board Meeting Overview

Board meetings are where elected officials conduct the business of the school district. Agendas for regular meetings of the NMUSD typically consist of a closed session and an open session.

Closed session agenda items are confidential and cannot be shared with the public. If the board agenda contains a closed session, the topics will be routinely related to confidential employee or student issues and/or pending litigation. The Board may also discuss various negotiations with its chief negotiator in a closed session.

Open session items are non-confidential agenda items in which the board conducts its business in view of the public. Open session agenda items are divided into the following sections:

Public comment is provided so that members of the community can speak to the Board. If a speaker addresses an issue that is not on the agenda, the Board is restricted from responding to the speaker. If a speaker addresses an issue that is on the agenda, the Board may respond when the agenda item is scheduled to be addressed in the agenda. The purpose of the open meeting law, commonly referred to as the Brown Act, guarantees that public organizations will only make decisions or address issues that have been publicly posted. Public comments on non-agenda items do not meet this threshold.

Presentation is when an item is being presented to the Board or from the Board. Examples include presentation of a check or proclamation to the Board, or the Board presenting a Distinguished Service Award to a staff member.

Report is a verbal communication from staff on a topic of interest to the Board.

Consent calendar items are routine items of business that occur on a regular basis. The board will approve the consent calendar in one vote, unless the board pulls it for discussion. Often, consent calendar items are related to contract renewals, construction change orders, purchase of previously approved instructional materials, supplies and routine approvals required by state law.

Discussion/action calendar items are required to be publicly approved separately. Items in this category are new items that have not been previously approved, require a policy change, or are related to compensation changes for all employees.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) congratulates Janice Duzey, Counselor at Costa Mesa High School, for receiving the Orange County Pathways Counselor Award. School counselors are invaluable in providing vital support to students in the areas of academics and mental health; they are a critical resource when it comes to student success.

Janice Duzey, Counselor at Costa Mesa High School

Ms. Duzey was recognized for her collaborative approach to supporting students in the areas of Career Technical Education, pathways, and preparing them for college and career success. She has worked in NMUSD for 18 years, starting at Estancia High School for one year and now serving as school counselor at Costa Mesa High School. Beyond helping students navigate the typical rigors of high school, coursework, preparation for college and beyond, she is also invaluable to students in the support of their mental health. She spends countless hours helping students and parents understand what options they have in navigating their path to success both emotionally and academically.

“My job is to help students identify their purpose and identify a pathway to that purpose,” said Janice Duzey.

Ms. Duzey finds that, while students may develop a passion in a particular area of study, some may complete a pathway and choose to go a different direction after high school. No matter what the students choose to do, completing a pathway gives them a real-life skill set beyond the typical high school graduation requirements that they can take with them regardless of the path they take in life.

“I am privileged to have received such a significant honor from the county, and thankful that I found my own pathway, passion, and sense of belonging as a school counselor,” said Janice Duzey.

This is the first year of the Orange County Department of Education’s (OCDE) Counselor Recognition Program and Ms. Duzey was one of nine counselors to receive an award. The OC Pathways award is collaboration between the OCDE and a consortium of ten community colleges. The award recognizes counselors that help students unlock their own interests, strengths, and passion and then develop goals based on those assessments. Ms. Duzey and the other award winners were recognized at an OCDE board meeting February 14, 2018. Ms. Duzey also will be recognized at the 2018 Orange County Counselor Symposium in October 2018.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) announces the 2018 Classified Employee of the Year awards program winners. The winners will proceed for consideration in the Orange County Classified Employees of the Year Program.

The Classified Employee of the Year awards program recognizes employees that go above and beyond the expectations of their job duties to provide exemplary service to students, families, and colleagues.

The 2018 Classified Employee of the Year winners are:

Daniela Logan, Office and Technical

Francine Harms, Transportation

Maria Gomez, Para Educator

Patricia Sanchez, Child Nutrition

Daniela Logan

Daniela Logan - Center

Daniela Logan serves as an accounting assistant III and has worked for NMUSD for more than 20 years and is the employee of the year in the category of Office and Technical. Daniela is a talented and dedicated employee whose customer service focus builds strong relationships with various departments and school employees across the district. Her positive attitude and ability to truly connect with people of varying personalities, needs, and budget knowledge make her an invaluable resource to the fiscal team and district as a whole.

Daniela is critical in assisting the management of programs that directly impact students such as early childhood education, after school enrichment programs, and the preschool programs. She also developed and implemented a budget training program for the school sites and departments that she supports. This gives those departments a greater understanding of the budget process. Living in Long Beach, Daniela also serves students in that area too. She is a member of the Assistance League of Long Beach Mentoring Program. In this program she serves local high school students and connects them with internship opportunities, raises funds for college scholarships, organizes career oriented workshops, and hosts cultural activities. She is dedicated to ensuring that all students know that anything is possible.

Francine Harms

Francine Harms - Third from left

Selected as employee of the year in the category of Transportation, Francine Harms has worked with the district for more than 10 years in the transportation department. She started as a trainee bus driver and has worked her way up through the ranks and is now a bus cover driver managing 58 bus routes. Her ability to manage bus routes, placement of students, particularly those with special needs, mentoring drivers, maintaining records, and general office management makes her a perfect fit in the transportation department.

Francine’s charismatic personality builds camaraderie, support, and success. She regularly mentors, trains new drivers, and provides ongoing support and recommendations to experienced drivers. She comes to know drivers so well that she can actually tailor bus routes to match drivers to students that they can best connect with. Francine also has participated in the Bus In The Classroom program which teaches students with special needs life-long skills in independent mobility. She is a positive change-agent, kind hearted, and a collaborative problem solver. Francine works to build great morale amongst those around her in the workplace in many ways. Her random notes of kindness to drivers and positive inspirational quotes around the office make a deeply positive impact.

Maria Gomez

Maria Gomez - Center

Maria Gomez has worked as a special education instructional assistant at Killybrooke Elementary for 12 years, and was selected as employee of the year in the category of Para-Educator and Instructional Assistance. She is extremely creative, animated, and models good behavior for her students. Maria takes the time to get to know her students personalities, abilities, and preferences and then uses that to encourage success. She goes above and beyond what’s expected in order to help students unlock their passion and meet their full potential.

Maria believes in helping students become more involved, build friendships, and helping general education students become more accepting of all students. One year at a talent show, Maria had a student that loved dancing so she worked with that student to choreograph a routine along with backup dancers. She took the extra time and effort to make sure the students were prepared and comfortable. This is an example of how Maria’s passion and care, benefits more than just the students that she works with directly. Due to her years of experience Maria also is able to offer tips and ideas to colleagues on how to encourage students.

Patricia Sanchez

Patricia Sanchez - Second from the right

Patricia Sanchez has worked for NMUSD for more than 25 years. She currently works at TeWinkle Intermediate School where she has served for the past 10 years. As employee of the year in the Child Nutrition category, Patricia has served in a variety of roles in school kitchens. She displays this invaluable experience each day as she assists in the preparation of more than 700 meals at her site.

Patricia has a genuine care for each student and impacts their lives in a positive way each school day. She regularly encourages students to eat healthy and trade cookies and chips for fruits and vegetables. She takes time to get to know students’ favorite meals so that when they are honored with an exemplary behavior award she is sure to reward those students with their favorite foods. She is extremely flexible and cooperative in the kitchen and steps into the leadership role easily when her supervisor is absent. Patricia is able to lead and direct the work of her colleagues in a respectful and collaborative manner. She consistently exudes happiness and helpfulness in ensuring that the school lunch program is a healthy, positive place for staff and students.

The Classified Employees of the Year will be recognized at a future NMUSD board meeting and will be considered countywide for the Orange County Classified School Employee of the Year.

16.d.5. Approve Contract with Challenge Success to Provide Professional Development to NMUSD High Schools

Board Meeting Overview

Board meetings are where elected officials conduct the business of the school district. Agendas for regular meetings of the NMUSD typically consist of a closed session and an open session.

Closed session agenda items are confidential and cannot be shared with the public. If the board agenda contains a closed session, the topics will be routinely related to confidential employee or student issues and/or pending litigation. The Board may also discuss various negotiations with its chief negotiator in a closed session.

Open session items are non-confidential agenda items in which the board conducts its business in view of the public. Open session agenda items are divided into the following sections:

Public comment is provided so that members of the community can speak to the Board. If a speaker addresses an issue that is not on the agenda, the Board is restricted from responding to the speaker. If a speaker addresses an issue that is on the agenda, the Board may respond when the agenda item is scheduled to be addressed in the agenda. The purpose of the open meeting law, commonly referred to as the Brown Act, guarantees that public organizations will only make decisions or address issues that have been publicly posted. Public comments on non-agenda items do not meet this threshold.

Presentation is when an item is being presented to the Board or from the Board. Examples include presentation of a check or proclamation to the Board, or the Board presenting a Distinguished Service Award to a staff member.

Report is a verbal communication from staff on a topic of interest to the Board.

Consent calendar items are routine items of business that occur on a regular basis. The board will approve the consent calendar in one vote, unless the board pulls it for discussion. Often, consent calendar items are related to contract renewals, construction change orders, purchase of previously approved instructional materials, supplies and routine approvals required by state law.

Discussion/action calendar items are required to be publicly approved separately. Items in this category are new items that have not been previously approved, require a policy change, or are related to compensation changes for all employees.

Vaccines are available at no cost for non-pregnant individuals four years and older. Vaccines will be distributed on a ﬁrst come ﬁrst serve basis and will be given until posted time or until supplies run out. Please wear short sleeves or sleeveless top.

12.a. NMUSD Mental Health and Crisis Response Initiatives. Last Spring the Board of Education approved board policy and administrative regulations related to compliance with Assembly Bill (AB) 2246, which mandated suicide prevention and education training to public school employees. This action was just one component of a larger, multi-faceted, and ongoing plan related to providing mental health and social and emotional supports to all students and families in the District. This report will offer a mid-year assessment of the initiatives related to the crisis response protocols that have been put into place since the adoption of AB 2246 board policies and administrative regulations

Consent

15.a.8. Approve a 24-Month Extension of the Memorandum of Understanding With the City of Newport Beach for Field Improvements at Newport Elementary School. The City of Newport Beach is requesting a 24-month extension to improve the playground and fields. The City of Newport Beach will design, bid, and construct the improvements including but not limited to all plans, specifications, permits, drawings and public notices.

15.b.1. Approve Addendum for Instructional Materials Adoption Support with the University of California, Irvine History Project. The UCI History Project has assisted NMUSD secondary history and social science teachers with comprehensive staff development to support the implementation goals for history and social science. This proposal is an addendum to the ongoing relationship between the UCI History Project and NMUSD to support the district to initiate the process of instructional material adoption.

Discussion/Action

16.a. Approve California School Board Association (CSBA) Delegate Assembly Election for 2018. CSBA Delegate Assembly is the primary policy-making body of the association. Each year in the fall, nominations for representatives to CSBA's Delegate Assembly are accepted. Delegates represent 24 regions throughout the State of California, and serve alternating two-year terms.

General Board Meeting Overview

Board meetings are where elected officials conduct the business of the school district. Agendas for regular meetings of the NMUSD typically consist of a closed session and an open session.

Closed session agenda items are confidential and cannot be shared with the public. If the board agenda contains a closed session, the topics will be routinely related to confidential employee or student issues and/or pending litigation. The Board may also discuss various negotiations with its chief negotiator in a closed session.

Open session items are non-confidential agenda items in which the board conducts its business in view of the public. Open session agenda items are divided into the following sections:

Public comment is provided so that members of the community can speak to the Board. If a speaker addresses an issue that is not on the agenda, the Board is restricted from responding to the speaker. If a speaker addresses an issue that is on the agenda, the Board may respond when the agenda item is scheduled to be addressed in the agenda. The purpose of the open meeting law, commonly referred to as the Brown Act, guarantees that public organizations will only make decisions or address issues that have been publicly posted. Public comments on non-agenda items do not meet this threshold.

Presentation is when an item is being presented to the Board or from the Board. Examples include presentation of a check or proclamation to the Board, or the Board presenting a Distinguished Service Award to a staff member.

Report is a verbal communication from staff on a topic of interest to the Board.

Consent calendar items are routine items of business that occur on a regular basis. The board will approve the consent calendar in one vote, unless the board pulls it for discussion. Often, consent calendar items are related to contract renewals, construction change orders, purchase of previously approved instructional materials, supplies and routine approvals required by state law.

Discussion/action calendar items are required to be publicly approved separately. Items in this category are new items that have not been previously approved, require a policy change, or are related to compensation changes for all employees.

The Orange County Committee on School District Organization is hosting the following public hearing meeting regarding Newport-Mesa Unified School District's request to approve and establish Trustee Areas from which Newport-Mesa Unified School District Governing Board Members will be elected in a By-Trustee Area Election Process.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District allows Parent School Choice Transfers for residents within the district boundaries. Dependent upon availability, the parent or guardian of any school-age resident student may request for their child to transfer to another school. The Parent School Choice transfer request application period for the 2018-2019 school year begins January 15, 2018 at 3:00 pm. and closes on March 15, 2018 at 11:59 pm. Please visit thetransfer request application webpageto apply. A lottery process is used to rank the applications in priority order. Parents will be notified regarding the status of their Parent School Choice Transfer request application by email or in writing by May 15, 2018. For more information, please visit the transfers webpage.

The Calendar Review Committee, comprised of certificated and classified staff, parents, district administrators, and employee bargaining units, typically develops calendar recommendations two to three years in advance of implementation. For the past few years, the Committee has discussed the concept of a collegiate calendar; the school year starting prior to Labor Day with the first semester ending prior to winter break.

Starting this fall, the Committee met five times to explore and consider a collegiate calendar. The Committee began by seeking anecdotal data from the school community which led to the attached Fact Sheet (Benefits and Concerns/FAQs). A survey was circulated to obtain input related to the concept of a Collegiate Calendar. Five information meetings were hosted to share and clarify particulars of the Fact Sheet and gather input from staff, parents and students.

The Committee carefully weighed these components prior to coming to a recommendation. When reviewing the information gathered, the Committee found that the responses on the survey varied with overall results indicating most respondents did not support the move to a collegiate calendar. Analyzing subgroups from elementary, middle and high school respondents, there was a gradual increase of support for the change (please see attached survey results). Comments collected during the information meetings identified multiple benefits for students, numerous concerns regarding heat in the classrooms of those schools without heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), and the timeline for implementation. While there has been a systematic plan for HVAC installation since 2013, the plan beyond the summer of 2018 was not available during the time of the survey and information meetings. The complete installation plan for all remaining schools was shared during the November 14, 2017 Board Meeting (please see attached).

After extensive analysis and discussions, the Committee recognized significant student benefits of a collegiate calendar particularly when they reach the secondary level and acknowledged the primary concern expressed by many stakeholders for HVAC to be installed at all school sites. The Committee considered the new information provided in the HVAC plan to address the concerns regarding heat and explored ways to provide students the benefits of the collegiate calendar. The Committee ultimately determined moving to a collegiate calendar was in the best interest of students. Implementing it three years from now would address concerns related to HVAC installation and create more time to plan for the transition.

The Calendar Review Committee has made the following recommendations and will meet to design the details of the calendars, which will move forward to the District and NMFT negotiation teams:

A traditional calendar for the 2018-2019 school year (Adopted October 10, 2017)

A traditional calendar for the 2019-2020 school year

A collegiate calendar for the 2020-2021 school year

Upon completion of negotiations and approved by the Board of Education, the adopted calendars will be made public.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District will host a Flu Vaccine Clinic on November 15, 2017. Vaccines are available at no cost for non-pregnant individuals four years and older. Vaccines will be distributed on a first come first serve basis and will be given until posted time or until supplies run out. Please wear short sleeves or sleeveless top.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District has partnered with Hanover Research, an independent research firm, to explore parents’ experiences with our district. The findings from this exploration will support the development of our district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).

As part of this exploration, Hanover Research will conduct a series of telephone interviews with parents. These conversations are designed to explore how parents engage with our district and their child’s school, and how parent engagement could be improved.

Participants will be selected at random and participation in these interviews is voluntary. However, it is important that members of the Newport-Mesa school community participate because only they can tell us about their perceptions and experiences. Please note that participation or non-participation will not affect any relationships you or your student(s) have with teachers, peers, or administrators. If you choose to participate, your responses will be kept anonymous.

You may be contacted by Hanover Research in the coming weeks to request your participation. If you have any questions or do not want to participate in these conversations, please email Hanover Research’s Content Director, Cate Keller at: ckeller@hanoverresearch.com or call 714-424-8919.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District, in collaboration with Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers (NMFT) and the Classified School Employees Association (CSEA), has decided to re-launch the online Collegiate Calendar Survey due to concerns expressed regarding the survey allowing for multiple entries.

If you have previously taken the online survey, please note that those responses will not be included. We ask you to retake the survey using the link previously provided or the link below. If you are a parent and have completed a hard copy of the survey, your input will be included and you will not need to retake the survey.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please know that we truly value our school community’s input on this important topic, which is why we are moving to a more accurate survey platform.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) is considering a shift to a collegiate calendar to more closely align with neighboring school districts and local colleges. This shift would start the school year up to three weeks prior to the Labor Day holiday and end the first semester prior to the winter break.

As a unified school district, this decision impacts everyone; therefore, NMUSD is in the process of seeking input from the school community regarding the potential shift. Please see the Collegiate Calendar Fact Sheet link below. The Fact Sheet includes background information, dates for informational meetings, benefits, concerns/frequently asked questions and the survey link (survey will be available November 1-15).

Your input will help guide the Calendar Committee in developing their recommendation. The final decision is determined through the negotiations process and adopted by the Board of Education.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District in partnership with the Costa Mesa and Newport Beach Police Departments would like to provide you with the important attached announcements regarding Halloween safety.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District will hold a public hearing in compliance with education code 60119 and 60422 – sufficiency of instructional materials that are aligned to the academic content standard for school year 2017-2018.

The public hearing will be held in conjunction with the regularly scheduled board of education meeting scheduled on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at approximately 6:00 p.m. in the District Education Center Boardroom, 2985 Bear Street, Costa Mesa, CA.

Notice is hereby given that on October 24, 2017, the Board of Education of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District at a regular meeting to be held at 6:00 p.m. at the District’s Board Room, located at 2985 Bear Street, Building A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, the Board of Education will conduct a public hearing to provide opportunity for the community to provide oral comment to the Board regarding the proposed waiver application to the State Board of Education with respect to a shift to by-trustee area elections. Persons seeking information should contact the Superintendent’s Office, (714) 424-5031.

Q & A on Waiver Request to State Board of Education Regarding Change in Board of Education Election System from At-Large to
By-Trustee Area Voting

On February 28, 2017, the Board of Education of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District directed a shift from the current at-large system of electing Board Members to by-trustee area elections. These Questions & Answers have been developed to provide information to all interested parties on this process.

Q: What is the change that will take place?

A: Currently, members of the Board of Education are elected in “at-large” elections, i.e., elections in which each governing board member is a resident of a trustee area but elected by the registered voters of the entire school district. Starting in the November 2018 election, Board Members will be elected by only the voters living in a designated trustee area.

Q: How many areas will there be?

A: The Board of Education will remain at seven members; therefore there will be seven areas.

Q: How may I learn more and/or provide feedback to the Board?

A: A public hearing regarding the submission of a waiver to the State Board of Education for a change from at-large to by-trustee area elections will be held October 24, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.

Q: What if I have additional questions?

A: You may contact the Superintendent’s office via email at superintendent@nmusd.us and/or attend the public hearing referenced above.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District Students Show Growth from 2015 to 2017 in Statewide English and Math Assessment

Students in Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) show growth from 2015 to 2017 in statewide English Language Arts (ELA) and math assessments. NMUSD students also remain above the Orange County and California averages in ELA and math.

The Smarter Balanced assessments are part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), which tests ELA and math standards for students in grades three through eight and grade 11. The Smarter Balanced assessments are computer adaptive tests that adjust the difficulty of the test items based on how a test taker responds. This provides a more precise measure of student performance.

The Smarter Balanced assessments, now in the third year, show an increase of 4.57 percentage points in NMUSD students having met or exceeded ELA standards, and an increase of 3.99 percentage points in students having met or exceeded math standards, when compared to the 2015 baseline assessments.

Many NMUSD schools have shown impressive growth during the three year period. Ensign Intermediate School maintained growth all three years in both ELA (9.0 percentage point growth) and math standards (8.50 percentage point growth). Nine schools have shown a growth of more than ten percent in ELA standards, with Adams Elementary showing a growth of 19.23 percentage points. Five schools have shown double digit growth in math standards, again with Adams topping the list at 17.13 percentage point growth.

Specific to Title I schools, nearly all have shown growth in ELA and math standards. Adams, Sonora, and Paularino Elementary Schools have shown double digit growth in both ELA and math standards.

“It is encouraging to see our Title I schools performing well,” said Deputy Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer Russell Lee-Sung. “This is a testament to the focus of our teachers, and principals to improve our instructional program for all our students,” he said.

Our district has been focused on providing support for classroom intervention systems to better implement differentiation of instructional strategies. This allows teachers and instructional assistants to provide targeted support to struggling students and additional enrichment opportunities for high achieving students, such as small group instruction with specifically tailored instructional materials.

ELA and math results for English Learners have remained relatively flat throughout the three year assessments. Our district is focused on improving English Learner proficiency by providing additional supports, such as the adoption of new elementary English Language Arts, English Language Development, and math instructional materials. Our district has added two Instructional Specialists in 2017/18, for a total of three that are solely dedicated to improving English Learner proficiency in all subject areas.

Looking at grade levels, third and sixth grade students have shown consistent growth in both ELA and math, throughout the three years of the assessments. While the district looks at improvement at all grade levels, there has been a strong focus on the third grade foundational skills. It is widely known that if students are not reading at grade level by third grade, it is increasingly more difficult for them to meet future grade level performance.

Comparing results from 2016 to 2017 assessments, NMUSD students showed a slight growth of .57 percentage points in ELA standards and a decline of 1.01 percentage points in math standards.

“We are confident that the selection of new elementary math and ELA/ELD instructional materials being implemented this school year will improve student proficiency,” said Deputy Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer Russell Lee-Sung.

The current statewide assessments only focus on ELA and math standards, however it is anticipated that the California Science Test (CAST) will be included in the state testing program in 2019. In the meantime, NMUSD teachers continue to work on the next generation Science Standards (NGSS) to prepare for the CAST.

Individual student 2017 assessments were mailed to parents. The NMUSD Smarter Balanced testing schedule for 2018 is anticipated for March 20 through June 15.

While statewide assessments provide valuable information about overall student progress and areas for improvement, they do not provide a holistic view of student achievement. The new California School Dashboard is expected to provide a more detailed view of performance, based on multiple factors, beyond state testing results. These factors include graduation rates, suspension rates, chronic absenteeism and college and career readiness. However, the State is not expected to provide this data until December 2017.

Public Hearings to be Conducted Regarding the Adjustment of Trustee Area Boundaries on September 18, September 28 and October 9

Newport-Mesa Unified School District will conduct three public hearings for the Board of Education to receive public comments specifically related to the two proposed trustee area boundary map options “B” and “G”. Trustee areas are specific boundaries within the school district that each Board of Education Member is elected to represent. Trustee boundaries are separate from school attendance boundaries and any changes to trustee area boundaries will not change or impact a student’s home school. Students’ home school will remain the same.

Two trustee area boundary maps, “B” and “G” are currently under consideration. Please visit the Trustee Area Boundary Adjustment webpage for more information, including proposed maps and analysis reports.

Upcoming Public Hearings:

You are invited to attend the following public hearings to provide public comments specifically related to the two proposed trustee area boundary map options.

*Please note that the District may adjourn earlier than 8 p.m. after accepting all comments, commencing
at 6 p.m.

September 18, 2017*

6:00 p.m.

Newport Harbor High School Theater

600 Irvine Avenue

Newport Beach, CA 92663

September 28, 2017*

6:00 p.m.

Costa Mesa High School

Theatre

2650 Fairview Road

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Transportation to the public hearing at Costa Mesa High School will be provided from the Rea Elementary School parking lot at 5:30 p.m. and will return at the conclusion of the public hearing.

October 9, 2017*

6:00 p.m.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District Boardroom

2985 Bear Street

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Public Hearing Format:

The public hearings are formal Board of Education meetings and will be video recorded.

The two maps (“Map B” and “Map G”) will be on display, as well as the analysis reports for each map.

Public comments will be received verbally or in writing.

Spanish interpreters will be available at each public hearing.

Background:

Newport-Mesa Unified School District has seven Board of Education members who are currently elected through an at-large voting system. An at-large voting system means that each member is elected by the entire school district voting population, but is required to reside in a particular trustee area. This is authorized by Education Code section 5030.

In a separate but related topic to boundary adjustments, in February 2017 the Board of Education initiated the change to elections by trustee area, commencing with the November 2018 elections. Elections by trustee area means that members will be elected by the specific trustee area that they represent, as opposed to the entire school district voting population (as is currently the process).

Due to the extensive population growth on the east side of the district, the superintendent convened a committee to review trustee areas. The committee, with the assistance of a demographer, was tasked with balancing the seven trustee areas to each have proportionate population and take into consideration traditional redistricting principles, such as trustee areas should be compact and contiguous; should consider communities of interest; should consider man-made and natural geographic features; and should continue with at least one majority–minority trustee area. The committee created proposed trustee area boundary map B.

The District conducted two initial public meetings in March 2017 to review trustee area boundaries and receive public input.

At its April 18, 2017 meeting, the Board of Education conducted a study session to receive and consider information related to the boundary adjustment. The Board directed the demographer to prepare additional draft maps for consideration. Map G was a result of public input and direction form the Board.

In its August 22, 2017 meeting, the Board of Education voted to conduct three public hearings to receive community input on maps B and G (meeting details are noted above).

Next Steps:

The Board of Education is expected to take action on the proposed trustee area boundary maps at a future Board of Education meeting.

Applying for free and reduced priced meals and pre-paying for student meals is easier than ever. Apply or pre-pay online today. Please see the attached flyer and visit the links below for more information.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District received a request to name the Newport Harbor High School (NHHS) track and field the "Bob Hailey Memorial Track and Field", in honor of Mr. Bob Hailey, who was a NHHS teacher and coach.

Greetings! In the interest of keeping the community informed, please see below for a brief review of the upcoming Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) Board meeting. I have highlighted a few items that may be of interest to the general public.

Board Meeting Agenda Highlights:

Recognition

10. a. Recognition of California Gold Ribbon School - TeWinkle Middle School. The Gold Ribbon Awards recognize California schools that have made gains in implementing the academic content and performance standards adopted by the State Board of Education.

10.b. Recognition of 2017 Model Continuation High School - Back Bay High School and 2016-17 California Continuation Education Association Region 10 Administrator of the Year, Principal Debbie Davis. Back Bay High School was named a 2017 Model Continuation High School for their program designed to help struggling students stay in school. Debbie Davis, who has been the principal of Back Bay High School for nearly 15 years, has been recognized as the 2016-17 California Continuation Education Association Region 10 Administrator of the Year.

13.b. Report on Elementary Math Instructional Materials. Education Services along with K-5 elementary lead teachers will report on the process and results for the elementary math instructional materials pilot.

Consent

15.b.1. Approve Additions to the High & Middle School Course of Study.It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the revisions to the High & Middle School Course of Study for the addition of various courses.

Discussion/Action

17.b. Approve New Logo to Represent Newport-Mesa Unified School District.It is recommended that the Board review logo designs and select a new logo to represent Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

17.c. Approve 2017-18 PreK-12 District Priorities. The Board met to review the 2017-18 PreK-12 Board's District Priorities, evaluate the progress made towards those priorities, and determine the revisions needed as the district moves into 2017-18. The document presented for approval reflects the Board's direction for 2017-18.

Please note that the NMUSD Board of Education meeting agenda is posted online the Friday prior to the meeting.

Board meetings are where elected officials conduct the business of the school district. Agendas for regular meetings of the NMUSD typically consist of a closed session and an open session.

Closed session agenda items are confidential and cannot be shared with the public. If the board agenda contains a closed session, the topics will be routinely related to confidential employee or student issues and/or pending litigation. The Board may also discuss various negotiations with its chief negotiator in a closed session.

Open session items are non-confidential agenda items in which the board conducts its business in view of the public. Open session agenda items are divided into the following sections:

Public comment is provided so that members of the community can speak to the Board. If a speaker addresses an issue that is not on the agenda, the Board is restricted from responding to the speaker. If a speaker addresses an issue that is on the agenda, the Board may respond when the agenda item is scheduled to be addressed in the agenda. The purpose of the open meeting law, commonly referred to as the Brown Act, guarantees that public organizations will only make decisions or address issues that have been publicly posted. Public comments on non-agenda items do not meet this threshold.

Presentation is when an item is being presented to the Board or from the Board. Examples include presentation of a check or proclamation to the Board, or the Board presenting a Distinguished Service Award to a staff member.

Report is a verbal communication from staff on a topic of interest to the Board.

Consent calendar items are routine items of business that occur on a regular basis. The board will approve the consent calendar in one vote, unless the board pulls it for discussion. Often, consent calendar items are related to contract renewals, construction change orders, purchase of previously approved instructional materials, supplies and routine approvals required by state law.

Discussion/action calendar items are required to be publicly approved separately. Items in this category are new items that have not been previously approved, require a policy change, or are related to compensation changes for all employees.

Our office is busy enrolling new students for the 2017-18 school year! It is very important we know who plans on returning to Harbor View to ensure our staffing needs are met as well as securing classroom spots for our current Harbor View families. With a waiting list of over 60 students, it is imperative we know who will be enrolling for the fall. This helps keep class sizes small but gives the district the necessary information to determine if we have openings for intradistrict transfers.

Please click on the link below to complete a quick survey regarding your intent to return to Harbor View for the 2017-18 school year. PLEASE submit separate surveys for each child attending Harbor View.

If you have an incoming kindergartner, we are currently taking paperwork in the main office. It is imperative that we get our new kindergartners enrolled not only for staffing but also to determine how many spots are available for families who would like to transfer to Harbor View and be a part of this amazing community!

In August 2016, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) Board of Education gave direction to staff to begin the process of evaluating and piloting new elementary math instructional materials. Through this collaborative, seven month pilot process, NMUSD K-5 teachers and staff have identified Bridges in Mathematics by Math Learning Center as the comprehensive set of kindergarten to fifth grade math instructional materials that will best meet the needs of NMUSD students and teachers.

As you may recall from previous communications, this process began with assembling a steering committee of teachers and administrators to develop and guide the pilot process and future recommendation to the Board of Education. The steering committee identified two viable sets of instructional materials that were implemented, analyzed and evaluated in select primary and upper grade classrooms at each site. Teachers used and evaluated each set of materials for seven weeks and then collaboratively reached consensus that Bridges in Mathematics is the best set of K-5 math instructional materials for NMUSD.

As part of the evaluation process parents and students in pilot classrooms were provided an opportunity to provide feedback on the instructional materials. Community members were able to review website links to publishers and provide feedback through the District Elementary Math Instructional Materials Pilot website.

We are grateful for the guidance and leadership of our Board of Education and their commitment to ensure that we provide teachers with opportunities to identify the best resources to prepare our students for the ever-changing world. District staff will report on the pilot process and the resulting recommendation of Bridges in Mathematics at the Board of Education meeting on May 9, 2017. Bridges in Mathematics materials will be on display for public review in the Sanborn Building from May 10, 2017 to May 23, 2017. A recommendation for final approval will go forward to the Board of Education on May 23, 2017.

We appreciate your feedback and support throughout the process and will continue to provide communication to our school community to work toward a seamless adoption process.

Greetings! In the interest of keeping the community informed, please see below for a brief review of the upcoming Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) Board meeting. I have highlighted a few items that may be of interest to the general public.

Board Meeting Agenda Highlights:

Recognition

10. a. Recognize 2016-2017 NMUSD Classified School Employee of the Year Recipients. The California School Employee of the Year (CSEY) program was established in 2008 by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and is based on guidelines set by the California Department of Education.It is recommended that the Board of Education recognize and commend NMUSD nominees for the California School Employee of the Year Program.

Reports

13.a. 50th Anniversary Student Board Member Report - 2000s. It is recommended that the Board of Education receive this report from the Costa Mesa High School student board members reflecting back on what it was like to be in school in the 2000s in Newport-Mesa.

Consent

Various routine contractual agreements related to the following:

15.a.2. Authorization to Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement with Geocon West, Inc. for Geotechnical Investigation for the New 50 Meter Pool Facility at Estancia High School

15.a.3. Approval of Agreement with C.E.M. Lab Corp. for Materials Testing and Deputy Inspection Services for the Newport Harbor High School Varsity Baseball Field Scoreboard Replacement Project

15.a.4. Approval of Agreement with MTGL, Inc. for Soil and Materials Testing and Inspection Services for the Learning Resource Center at Corona del Mar High School

Board meetings are where elected officials conduct the business of the school district. Agendas for regular meetings of the NMUSD typically consist of a closed session and an open session.

Closed session agenda items are confidential and cannot be shared with the public. If the board agenda contains a closed session, the topics will be routinely related to confidential employee or student issues and/or pending litigation. The Board may also discuss various negotiations with its chief negotiator in a closed session.

Open session items are non-confidential agenda items in which the board conducts its business in view of the public. Open session agenda items are divided into the following sections:

Public comment is provided so that members of the community can speak to the Board. If a speaker addresses an issue that is not on the agenda, the Board is restricted from responding to the speaker. If a speaker addresses an issue that is on the agenda, the Board may respond when the agenda item is scheduled to be addressed in the agenda. The purpose of the open meeting law, commonly referred to as the Brown Act, guarantees that public organizations will only make decisions or address issues that have been publicly posted. Public comments on non-agenda items do not meet this threshold.

Presentation is when an item is being presented to the Board or from the Board. Examples include presentation of a check or proclamation to the Board, or the Board presenting a Distinguished Service Award to a staff member.

Report is a verbal communication from staff on a topic of interest to the Board.

Consent calendar items are routine items of business that occur on a regular basis. The board will approve the consent calendar in one vote, unless the board pulls it for discussion. Often, consent calendar items are related to contract renewals, construction change orders, purchase of previously approved instructional materials, supplies and routine approvals required by state law.

Discussion/action calendar items are required to be publicly approved separately. Items in this category are new items that have not been previously approved, require a policy change, or are related to compensation changes for all employees.

We are proud to announce that the Newport-Mesa Unified School District has been selected as a finalist for the 2017 Learning Impact Awards. The program recognizes outstanding innovative applications of education technology to address significant challenges facing education.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) school bus drivers Ricardo Sandoval, Juliann Scheafer and Jason Greenberg win top honors at the 57th annual Orange County School Bus Roadeo, which attracted nearly 100 drivers.

Ricardo Sandoval, who has been a school bus driver with NMUSD for four years, won first place in the county and first place overall. Juliann Scheafer was awarded third place in the county. As a team, Ricardo, Juliann and Jason placed first countywide.

NMUSD school bus drivers have been competing in the Roadeo, on and off, since 1991, and have amassed 18 first place individual wins and seven team wins at the county level.

School Bus Safety Roadeos are held across the United States and require drivers to pass a written test prior to competing in the seven behind the wheel events. The emphasis throughout the competition is safety and by design, increases safety awareness. Various Roadeos occur throughout California, leading up to the statewide competition. Drivers that perform well at the state level are invited to compete at the International Roadeo competition. Last year, NMUSD bus driver Victor Garza was awarded first place at the International Roadeo. Part of NMUSD’s success in the Roadeo can be attributed to the rigorous training program, ongoing education and testing that takes place within the district.

“Everything we do, all of the training, all of the testing is to increase safety. We want parents to know that we have some of the best drivers in the state,” said NMUSD Transportation Operations Supervisor Norm Turner.

Participation in the Roadeo is voluntary and NMUSD consistently participates and succeeds at these events. Some drivers attend the Roadeo even if they are not participating in the competition just to support their colleagues, often times cooking and volunteering at the event.

There is a proud history throughout NMUSD of providing safe and efficient school bus transportation. NMUSD is an industry leader in student transportation for a variety of reasons including maintaining clean buses in good working order, having some of the best drivers in the state, and assisting other districts implement the Bus in the Classroom student transportation safety skill training program.

NMUSD is currently hiring bus drivers! If you or someone you know is interested in joining an award-winning team of school bus drivers, please visit the job opportunities website. Drivers can start with little or no experience and through paid training get the experience and licensing necessary to become a school bus driver. Juliann Scheafer, one of this year’s award-winning Roadeo participants, began with NMUSD in 2014 with no previous experience. She received her training through NMUSD and went on to successfully compete at the state level finishing with a fourth place win within her first year.

Newport-Mesa USD is pleased to announce the 2017 Classified Employee of the Year Awards Program winners, two of which were selected as Orange County Classified Employees of the year and will proceed for consideration at state level.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) launched a Chromebook initiative that will provide access for all students to a digital environment.

In fall 2016, implementation of the Chromebook initiative began with the Estancia Zone. This provided all students in grades K-7 with access to Chromebooks, with grades 3-7 being a one-to-one environment. Chromebooks were distributed to students in the Estancia Zone which includes TeWinkle Middle School, Adams, California, Pomona, Rea, Victoria and Wilson Elementary Schools.

Informational parent meetings were held at all schools. Traditional computer labs are being replaced with mobile technology and devices in the classroom.

With more devices in their hands, students will learn the benefits that technology has to offer by fine-tuning their foundational research skills, storing their projects and activities in the cloud, and sharing ideas in a safe and supportive online environment.

This initiative has led to increased use of technology in the classroom, with students using it for research, collaboration and to create new and exciting works, while teachers are finding new ways to engage students both in groups and individually. As professional development for staff is crucial part of the initiative, the Educational Technology Department has been providing training on best practices for using Chromebooks as an instructional tool, support for initial setup and lesson design using a co-teaching model and customized trainings based on skill level of staff. Digital Fellows and site technology coordinators at the schools also continue to provide support as needed.

The Initiative includes the following:

Kindergarten - 2nd grade: One shared classroom set of Chromebooks per grade level. Each classroom also receives 6 Chromebooks. Chromebooks remain at the school.

3rd - 4th grade: One classroom set of Chromebooks per class. Chromebooks remain at the school.

5th - 8th grades: In fifth grade students are assigned a Chromebook that they take home and keep until 9th grade. For the initial launch of the initiative all students in grades fifth through seventh were assigned a Chromebook.

9th grade: Students will be assigned a Chromebook in 9th grade that they take home and keep until they graduate. For the Initiative, 9th graders will receive Chromebooks in Year 2.

Students that are assigned Chromebooks to be taken home follow a similar approach to when textbooks are checked out from the library. They are responsible for ensuring the safe handling and charging of their Chromebooks.

For the 2017-18 school year, the Chromebook initiative is expected to be implemented throughout the Newport Harbor Zone in the same format as the Estancia Zone. The Newport Harbor Zone includes Kaiser, Mariners, Newport, Newport Heights, Whittier and Woodland Elementary Schools, as well as Ensign Intermediate and Newport Harbor High School. It is anticipated that the Chromebook initiative will be implemented in the Costa Mesa zone and Corona del Mar in the following years.

For more information about the Chromebook Initiative please contact edtech@nmusd.us.

The NMUSD Board of Education at its February 28,2017 meeting called for the equalization of trustee area boundaries by population, and initiated the change to voting by trustee area elections, commencing with the November 2018 Board of Education elections.

As part of the adjustment of trustee area boundaries, the District will conduct two initial public hearings to review trustee area boundaries and receive public input.

Please read the attached press release for public hearing dates and more information.

On July 1, 1966 the Costa Mesa Union School District, Newport Beach City School District and the Newport Harbor Union High School District unified to become the Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD).

For more than five decades Newport-Mesa Unified School District has created lasting memories and nurtured the talents of its students. NMUSD is a leader in educational innovation; delivering a rigorous, broad-based curriculum through exceptional, high-quality instruction supported by a team of dedicated educators and support staff.

Throughout the District’s rich 50 year history, it has strived to help students find their passion, purpose, and potential, to prepare them to venture into the future in careers, college and active citizenship. Whether through academics, arts, athletics or other interests, NMUSD has opportunities to match every student's talents and interest.

While much has changed in education throughout NMUSD’s 50 year history, the District takes pride in continually evolving and adapting to changing educational needs. NMUSD has exceptionally bright and forward-thinking students, teachers, staff and leadership team that remain committed to ensuring that students are well-prepared for future successes.

“Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the success of our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Fred Navarro. “We appreciate your unwavering commitment, support and partnership as we look forward to continued success,” he said.

Stay connected throughout the 2016/17 school year, and join NMUSD in celebrating this milestone anniversary, as the District shares some fun facts and highlights of its 50 year legacy of excellence, www.nmusd.us/anniversary.